The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-12-03
Conviction of John Most.

New York courts have a way of dealing
with outlaws that should be emulated in
every state. John Most, the Anarchist,
for uttering seditious language, was on
Tuesday found guilty with a promptness
that must be reassuring to all lovers of lib
erty, not license, of free speech, not treason.
A few days after the Anarchists were
hanged in Chicago Most made a violent
harangue at meeting of Anarchists at
Kraemer's Hall, New York. The police
dispersed the meeting and arrested Most.
With promptness the outlaw was indicted,
and with greater promptness, yet after an
impartial trial, he was convicted.
During the trial Most took the witness
stand in his own behalf, and out of his own
mouth convicted himself of being an agita-
tor and an outlaw. After giving a sum-
mary of his speech at Kraemer's Hall, he
was cross-examined at length, some of the
questions touching upon his past life. In
response to the latter Most said he had
been convicted of treason in Austria in 1869
and had been imprisoned one year. In
1870 he was again convicted in that coun-
try of the same crime, and got five years
sentence, but gained his liberty in 1871
through an amnesty granted to political
prisoners. In 1872 he was sentenced to
one years Imprisonment in Berlin for call
ing the Emperor Of Germany "slaugh-
terer" and 'massacrer. In 1874 he was
sentenced to imprisonment for one year and
six months for speech made in Berlin on
the memorial day of the Paris commune.
In 1877 he was sentenced in Berlin to two
months Imprisonment for blasphemy. In
1881 he was sentenced in England to 1S
months Imprisonment for applauding in
the Freiheit the killing of the Gar. When
he got out of prison there he came to this
country, and has since remained here.
Thus in three countries in Europe he served
seven terms of Imprisonment from 1869 to
1882, and came to the United States, where
he thought the laws gave greater license
for his infamous views and theories. This
is his second imprisonment here, however.
To great number of questions upon his
teachings upon the use of dynamite and
murder, he declined TO answer, for true
replies would criminate himself. Like
most outlaws and plotters against order
and good government, he is bold only in
the secret conclaves of his adherents and
sympathizers. When before tribunal of
justice he avails himself of his privileges
and denies his own teachings by his silence.
Further on in his cross-examination,
however, he said he was not specially fight
ing the United States government, but was
opposed to all government. His motto was
Education for organization; organization to
put down the rebellion of the capitalistic
class" awe do not expect that the capt.
talistlc classes Will give up what they nave
peaceably. There will be fierce fighting on
both sides" The ''rebellion" of the capt.
talistic class consists in the people, who
love order, peace and security, wanting and
maintaining government. They are termed
the "capitalistic class in order to gain fol-
lowers from the worthless, idle loungers
who detest honest labor and would rob the
industrious and economical of the fruits of
their industry and economy.
All Anarchists should be severely dealt
with everywhere, and the sooner all people
of the Most stamp go to the prison or the
gallows the better it will be for the country.